Freeload: Wale + 9th Wonder Back to the Feature Mixtape (Mixed by Nick Catchdubs)
- story THE FADER
At the beginning of this primarily 9th Wonder-produced mixtape, Wale says, “People be like, ‘Can you put the fucking tape out, Wale? You’re lazy…’” We’re definitely not calling Wale lazy, but dude needs to get an album out as soon as he can. Until then, we can make do with this mixtape, which is awesome enough to carry us for a couple months. We’ve had not-so-nice words for 9th Wonder’s production before (”His snares sound like someone slapping a wet cardboard box” etc), but Wale and his guests, who range from Beanie Sigel to Freeway to Daniel Merriweather to an excellent verse-for-verse tradeoff song with Bun B, make us forget all about the past. And of course the guiding hand of FADER-fam and awesome dude Nick Catchdubs, who has mixed all of Wale’s tapes to date, deserves some credit, too.
Download: Wale + 9th Wonder, Back to the Feature Mixtape
Video: Wale f. Lady Gaga, “Chillin”
- story THE FADER
Not feeling the tacked-on Lady Gaga chorus, but other than that, this is a good Wale song. He gives empty bragging substance, and if this is what it takes to get dude attention outside of the internet/New York/DC/Industry circuit (see also: videos regularly on television) then more power to him. Special award goes to Bun B for appearing in almost as many scenes as Wale without even having to rap.
Freeload: Wale f. Peedi Crakk, Black Thought, Tuphace & Young Chris, “Hot Shyt”
- story THE FADER
As much we like to think Twitter is sometimes a way to drive us insane and prepare us for mental slavery, we gotta admit THERE’S A LOTTA HOT SHIT POPPIN OVER THERE. Wale just put this track up from the forthcoming (maybe) Back to the Feature mixtape and it has quite a few Philly underdog favorites and one other dude from Philly on it. Try and guess which one references Pitchfork before you listen. Enjoy and look for it again in about five minutes on FADER Twitter.
Download: Wale f. Peedi Crakk, Black Thought, Tuphace & Young Chris, “Hot Shyt” (via Twitter)
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posted on May 21, 2009 in MP3 / STREAMS tags Black Thought, freeload, hip hop, Peedi Crakk, Tuphace, Wale, Young Chris
World Premiere Freeload: Nickel Eye f. Wale, “Brandy of the Damned (Ronson Remix)”
- story THE FADER
Ronson played this a couple weeks ago on his EVR show just as we were leaving ours and we had to pull a heel pivot to ask him what it was. As he told us then and we tell you now, it’s his remix of one of our favorite songs on Nikolai Fraiture’s Nickel Eye album, mellowed even further by some gentle hornery, shuffling snares and an almost whispered verse from Wale. If we know Ronson like we think we do, this was probably recorded in a sunken living room in front of a fireplace surrounded by models wrapped in fur drinking hot buttered rum while Nikolai stared out of the panoramic glass walls wondering when he’d get sick of being blessed (never) and Wale spit rhymes into a mic made out of frozen champagne. Or they just emailed each other. Get it here or get it nowhere!
Download: Nickel Eye f. Wale, “Brandy of the Damned (Ronson Remix)”
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posted on Feb 27, 2009 in MP3 / STREAMS tags freeload, Mark Ronson, Nickel Eye, rock, The Strokes, Wale
Freeload: Young Chris f. Wale & Bun B, “Searching”
- story THE FADER
It’s safe to say that we’ve been waiting on a Young Chris solo album pretty much since
this. Though some 8 years later, Chris’ impending Now Or Never seems like it’s finally going to see the light of day. Seemingly as a reward for our patience, Young C is giving us (not really, but someone) a chance to BE ON THE ALBUM. The song already has Wale and Bun B on it so the wack need not apply, but according to Chris, anyone can “rap, sing or even talk about what they are searching for.” You can download the song, complete with a space for contribution below. Verses, ceremonial chants, etc can be turned in at youngchris.com or searchingforanoutlet.com.
Download: Young Chris f. Wale & Bun B, “Searching”
Freeload: Wale Likes Funky
- story THE FADER
London is falling apart. A couple inches of snow have completely shut the city down, someone threw a shoe at the Chinese Prime Minister at Cambridge, Lily Allen is prancing around as Little Bo Peep and a red-blooded American named Wale is performing hostile takeovers of UK-indigenous funky house tracks on DJ Semtex’s show. Not that any of that is bad — it’s actually improving our day quite a bit — but please try to pull it together a little bit over there. Prancehall actually talked about both source tracks in his column, so pay attention to him if you want more of this kind of stuff. Meanwhile, in addition to the aforementioned funky massacres, Wale debuted his new single at a recent show in LA. Watch that video after the jump and expect Wale’s album in late spring.
Download: Wale, “Warrior Freestyle”
Download: Wale, “Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes”
Freeload: Wale and Friends Live at Highline Ballroom (Full Show)
- story THE FADER
If you read our recent review of Wale and friends at the Highline Ballroom the other night you might have thought to yourself, Dag, I wish I had gone to that, it probably sounded pretty killer. Well, as Twitter has taught us all, there is no need to go anywhere or do anything offline. Shit, we’re not even sure this show wasn’t CGI’d out of old FADER photos, but Elitaste just put up board audio of the entire thing up and it actually sounds just like every go-go tape we bought on U Street in high school, if not slightly more polished. Tracks are separated and guest stars are plentiful: Pusha T, Ryan Leslie, Chrisette Michelle, Freeway, Young Chris, all FADER favorites. Get it below.
Wale and Friends Live at Highline Ballroom (Full Show)
Live: Wale and Friends at Highline Ballroom
- story THE FADER
We’ve seen Wale perform so many times since featuring him in F44 that we’re well past the paternal conceitedness we once felt so rightfully entitled to. At this point we’re just happy he can afford to drape himself in Louis Vuitton sweater/hat combos. Aside from the new digs though, the DMV’s greatest hope has also gained many a new friend, displaying a wealth of them last night at Highline Ballroom. Wale was backed by legendary go-go band UCB, who got extra loose during renditions of Junkyard Band’s “Sardines,” EU’s “Da Butt,” and their very own (and very amazing), “Sexy Lady.” After he warned that it was about to get “real hip hop in here,” out jumps Freeway (beard still sticking out) for his verse on “What We Do,” followed by Young Chris, who sounded angelic over UCB’s rendition of The Young Gunz ski lodge fail-safe, “No Better Love.” The three then broke into an impromptu cipher, in which most appropriately both Rhymefest and Craig G could be seen offstage waiting to be waved home. Neither ended up onstage, but before closing things off with “Nike Boots,” Wale brought out Ryan Leslie for “Addicted,” finally apologizing for being a “cheater.” Apology accepted. Also in attendance were 9th Wonder and (in a well protected VIP area) ex-Def Jam president, Jay-Z.
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posted on Dec 10, 2008 in MUSIC NEWS tags Freeway, hip hop, Jim Jones, Kid Cudi, Ryan Leslie, UCB, Wale, Young Chris
Video: Wale, “Nike Boots”
- story THE FADER
We’ve been hearing about a video for “Nike Boots” almost every day since the song came out over a year ago, so it’s good to finally see it come to such fine fruition. Filmed by Chris Robinson, director of ATL and many a memorable rap and r&b video, the video follows Wale around this year’s Howard Homecoming, significant for Wale because DC has historically been stubborn to accept and embrace local artists and Howard Homecoming is its most obvious way of saying he’s made it.
Freeload: M.I.A., “Boyz” with Jay-Z and Wale
- story THE FADER
The power of the Pineapple Express trailer continues to astound as Jay-Z has recorded a brand new verse over M.I.A.’s “Boyz” which we originally posted the video for in June of 2007. Not to mention we put Maya on the cover in September of 2004. Hello, World! Obviously, we’re kidding. We know these things take time, and we’re genuinely excited to hear her voice all over the place. According to the Elitaste blog post where we found Wale’s version, Interscope will be re-releasing her album from last year, Kala, with “Boyz” as the single. So it is not hard to imagine that it could sell upwards of 500,000 copies as it now stands at almost 350,000, which is honestly kind of ridiculous. In a good way. Regardless, we were waiting for a tagless version of the Jay-Z remix and now we have it. Decide for yourself which you like best.
Download: M.I.A. f. Jay-Z, “Boyz (Remix)”
Download: M.I.A. f. Wale, “Boyz (Remix)”
